Pandemic lifts popularity of organised tours, UK cruise specialist says

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 27 July 2021 27 July 2021

Retail cruise specialist cruise.co.uk has noted a significant increase in the proportion of guests booking its tailor-made land tour packages pre- or post-sailing, versus those who book independent arrangements, the company said in a statement.

“Prior to the pandemic, there was an even split between cruisers selecting organised tour packages and those making independent arrangements. Now around 75% choose the organised option,” the company said.

Extended stays tend to be popular with guests who have taken a voyage further afield and want to make the most of their long-distance break.

Tony Andrews, deputy managing director of cruise.co.uk, said: “Our organised tour packages have never been more popular and it’s easy to see why. Cruisers are itching to get back out and explore, both on land and on sea, so are still booking extended breaks either side of their sailing to really make the most of their time away.”

“At the same time, they want to remain safe and secure, so having a tailor-made schedule with a reputable operator is an ideal way to do this. It takes the hassle out of the arrangements, ensures everyone gets great access on their tours, and provides the peace-of-mind that everyone is fully protected when they travel. It’s an ideal compromise and we’re anticipating most cruisers will make this their preference for the foreseeable future," he said.

Photo: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada

Norwegian Cruise Line returns to cruise

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 26 July 2021 26 July 2021

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) yesterday officially commemorated its highly-anticipated cruise comeback with a double debut: Norwegian Jade was not only the first of its 17-ship fleet to welcome guests after 500 days, she also made NCL history as the first vessel to homeport in Athens (Piraeus).

Until November 2021, guests sailing aboard Norwegian Jade's immersive Greek Isles itinerary will wake up in a new destination every day, able to spend eight-to-nine hours exploring some of Greece's most picturesque islands including luxurious Crete, bustling Mykonos, historical Rhodes and the iconic blue and white Santorini.

"Welcoming our guests and crew on board has been one of the most memorable moments of my over 30-year career," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We are excited to embark on the Great Cruise Comeback with a brand-new itinerary and homeport for our brand, offering our guests an even greater selection of unique vacations at sea."

Greek Minister of Tourism Harry Theoharis added, "We are overjoyed to welcome Norwegian Jade and her guests to Greece. The planned itineraries will offer unique experiences that combine our rich history, bustling culture and famous gastronomy."

Norwegian Jade’s deployment in Athens is part of a long-term strategy to further increase the brand’s presence in Europe, one of the line’s most popular cruise destinations. Through 2023, the Company plans to position nine ships in the region, with Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Gem, Jade and Star scheduled to sail in Greece.

"Norwegian Jade’s first Greek Isles voyages sold out shortly after we made the announcement that we were on our way back," said Sommer. "With such strong demand, we are glad to expand our offering in Greece with seven ships through 2023, providing our guests with a range of innovative vessels and itineraries to choose from."

Norwegian Jade is the first ship to recommence voyages as part of the Company’s larger restart efforts. On Aug. 7, 2021, Norwegian Encore will be the first ship to return to service from the U.S., when she debuts in Seattle for her inaugural season of Alaska cruises. The fleetwide redeployment will continue in partnership with local governments and are guided by the robust protocols of the Company’s SailSAFE health and safety program, which at its cornerstone includes that all crew and guests must be fully vaccinated to embark for voyages through Oct. 31, 2021. Working with the leading experts of the SailSAFE Global Health and Wellness Council, the robust protocols will regularly be evaluated and modified as needed, making science-based decisions to protect guests, crew and the destinations it visits. As protocols evolve and additional information becomes available, updates will be published at www.ncl.com/sail-safe.

MSC, Fincantieri and SNAM to partner world's first oceangoing hydrogen-powered cruise ship

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 26 July 2021 26 July 2021

Today the Cruise Division of MSC Group, Fincantieri and Snam announced the signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly determine the conditions for the design and construction of what would become the world’s first oceangoing hydrogen-powered cruise ship.

The owner of the world’s third largest cruise brand and part of the leading global shipping and logistics conglomerate MSC Group, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups and a leading international energy infrastructure operator, have joined forces to initially carry out a study that will assess the feasibility of designing and building the world’s first oceangoing cruise ship powered by hydrogen, which would allow zero-emissions operations in certain areas, and the development of the related hydrogen bunkering infrastructure.

Green hydrogen can be produced without fossil fuels, using renewable energy to split water in a process called electrolysis and can therefore be emissions-free on a full lifecycle basis. It can be used to generate electrical power through a fuel cell, emitting only water vapor and heat. This type of ‘green’ hydrogen holds great potential to contribute to the decarbonisation of the shipping industry, including cruising, whether in its pure form or as a hydrogen-derived fuel.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group said, “As a Company that has long made environmental sustainability its focus, we want to put ourselves at the forefront of the energy revolution for our sector and hydrogen can greatly contribute to this. However, today production levels remain low and hydrogen fuel is still far from being available at scale. With this project, we’re taking the lead to bring this promising technology to our fleet and the industry while sending the strongest possible signal to the market about how seriously we take our environmental commitments. As we advance with the development of the maritime technology required, we will also see that energy providers take note and ramp up production to unlock this, and that governments and the public sector step in to provide the necessary support for a project that is critical to the decarbonisation of cruising and shipping.”

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri’s CEO said: “Every opportunity for new solutions and technologies is a source of growth for us. This one allows us to offer our customers the best of innovation to help minimize the environmental impact”.

Marco Alverà, Snam’s CEO said, “Hydrogen could be a key enabler in achieving the target of net zero emissions in shipping, accounting for approximately 3 percent of global CO2 emissions, as well as in all the hard to abate sectors. Snam is strongly committed to concrete initiatives for sustainable heavy transport - on road, rail and by sea - promoting the use of renewable gases such hydrogen and bioLNG. This agreement for us is part of a wider strategy to leverage on our experience, competences and technologies in green gases and energy efficiency in order to contribute to the full decarbonisation of the shipping value chain, including ports and logistics, which will be increasingly crucial in our economies.”

As per the terms of the MoU, during the next 12 months the three companies will study key factors related to the development of oceangoing hydrogen-powered cruise ships. These include arranging ship spaces to accommodate H2 technologies and fuel cells, technical parameters of onboard systems, calculating the potential greenhouse gas emissions savings, and a technical and economic analysis of hydrogen supply and infrastructure.

The Cruise Division of MSC Group is committed to achieving net carbon neutral operations by 2050. To accomplish this objective, the Company is working in partnership with a wide range of shipyards, suppliers, manufacturers and other organisations as well as investing in different upcoming technologies and solutions for its fleet.

The implementation of the cooperation above described will possibly be object of future binding agreements to be discussed by the Parties in relation thereto.

AIDA Cruises unveils new winter 2021-22 itineraries

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 22 July 2021 22 July 2021

AIDA Cruises, the Germany focused contemporary market company in the Carnival Corporation & plc group, said it would expand its vacation programme with new cruises during the autumn/winter season 2021-22.

AIDAprima will expand its season in Hamburg and will call at various destinations in Western Europe as of Oct. 30, 2021, to April 2022.

After the end of the Greece season, AIDAblu will be deployed in the Canary Islands from November until the end of December 2021. At the beginning of 2022, AIDAblu sets course for the Mediterranean, offering seven-day cruises from Palma de Mallorca in January and February.

From the end of February 2022, Civitavecchia will be the start and destination port for voyages to beautiful metropolises in Italy, followed by fascinating roundtrips from Corfu through the archipelago of ancient Greece, starting in April 2022.

AIDA Cruises will shortly announce its complete holiday program for the autumn/winter season 2021-22.

However, due to the new travel offers and ongoing travel restrictions in several regions of the world, some cruises with AIDAmira, AIDAvita, AIDAdiva, AIDAnova, AIDAluna, AIDAbella, AIDAaura, AIDAprima and AIDAblu between August 2021 and April 2022 cannot take place as originally planned or have to be adjusted.

Guests who were booked on impacted cruises and their travel advisors are being notified, the company said.